doi:10.1369/jhc.7A7173.2007
Volume 55 (11): 1167-1172, 2007 Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc. Expression of the Immunomodulator IL-10 in Type I Pneumocytes of the Rat: Alterations of IL-10 Expression in Radiation-induced Lung Damage
OncoRay Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (MGH), Department of Pathology (MGH,AK,GBB), and Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology (PG), Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany Correspondence to: Michael Haase, OncoRay Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Medical Faculty, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. E-mail: Michael.Haase{at}OncoRay.de
Fibrosing alveolitis is a disease with inflammatory, proliferative, and fibrotic components. In different models, it has been shown that the cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a conflicting role in inflammation-associated fibrotic processes, inasmuch as it is an anti-inflammatory cytokine but also a TH2 cytokine with inherent pro-fibrotic effects. IL-10 is produced primarily by inflammatory cells. In this report, we show in a rat model of radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis that IL-10 is also produced by type I alveolar epithelial cells in both normal and fibrotic lungs. The total amount of IL-10 in the lung is increased after irradiation, but type I pneumoyctes contain less IL-10. The R3/1 permanent type I pneumocyte cell line also contains IL-10, which is reduced after irradiation. Whereas in the normal lung, the entire alveolar surface is covered by IL-10–producing pneumocytes, this continuity is interrupted in fibrotic lungs, because type I pneumocytes lack full differentiation and thus full spreading over the alveolar surface. The exposure of the IL-10–negative epithelial basal membrane may allow for an easier attachment of inflammatory cells such as alveolar macrophages. These cells have the potential to act in a pro-inflammatory way by tumor necrosis factor and also in a pro-fibrotic way by activating TH2 cytokines. (J Histochem Cytochem 55:1167–1172, 2007)
Key Words: interleukin-10 type I pneumocytes fibrosing alveolitis radiation damage
IRRADIATION OF THE THORAX leads to fibrosing alveolitis. Although in the late stage of the disease, fibrosis is dominant, an inflammatory component is almost always seen, especially in the early phase. Several pro-inflammatory cytokines have been described in the process of the disease, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF ), transforming growth factor ß (TGFß), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) (Kovacs 1991
On the one hand, IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine, because it downregulates TNF
On the other hand, several reports exist that classify IL-10 as a pro-fibrotic cytokine that is associated with a role in the TH2 immune response (Barbarin et al. 2005
IL-10 has been described to be produced by cells of the immune system such as TH0 and TH2 cells, monocytes, macrophages, and B-lymphocytes. IL-10 is also produced by mast cells and acts in an autocrine manner, thereby activating the cells (Thompson-Snipes et al. 1991 In this report, we show that the alveolar surface is covered by IL-10–positive type I pneumocytes, which may act as a protective shield. This continuity is disturbed in radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis, which allows adhesion of inflammatory cells and exposure to inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines. According to the dual role as an anti-inflammatory but also pro-fibrotic cytokine, it is discussed how IL-10 might be involved in radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis in different cell types.
Cell Culture The R3/1 rat lung epithelial cell line (Koslowski et al. 2004
Animal Model
Immunohistochemistry
Western Blots
Quantification of IL-10 Protein Expression in the Rat Lung In total protein extracts of the rat lung, IL-10 was expressed (Figure 1 ). Compared with the control lung (lane 1), IL-10 was constantly increased from 4 to 12 weeks after irradiation. As a next step, we wanted to characterize the cell types that express IL-10 in the lung.
Cellular Distribution of IL-10 Expression in the Rat Lung In addition to inflammatory cells, IL-10 was expressed at the alveolar surface (Figure 2A ), suggesting positivity of type I and type II pneumocytes. In rat lungs with fibrosing alveolitis, IL-10 was expressed by thickened cells of the alveolar surface (Figures 2B and 2C). Alveolar macrophages adhered to areas of the alveolar surface that lack IL-10 expression. Mast cells contained low amounts of IL-10 in this model, as judged by morphology (Haase et al. 2004
Presence of IL-10 in Cultured Type I Pneumocytes To prove the identity of IL-10 in type I pneumocytes, Western blotting was performed with protein extracts of R3/1 cells that have features primarily of type I pneumocytes. In these cells, a characteristic 35-kDa IL-10 band could be detected (Figure 3). After irradiation of those cells with a single dose of 20 Gy of ionizing radiation, a decrease of IL-10 expression was detected.
This study deals with the cell type–specific expression of IL-10 in the rat lung under normal conditions and in lungs with radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis. There are conflicting results in the literature on the role of IL-10 in fibrosing alveolitis. These studies used bronchioloalveolar lavage fluid or total lung lysates and usually assumed that IL-10 expression is restricted to inflammatory cells. In this study, we show that IL-10 is expressed in type I pneumocytes of the alveolar surface. Because IL-10 is a molecule that suppresses acute inflammation, it may prevent the activation and the adhesion of inflammatory cells at the alveolar surface. Indeed, alveolar macrophages are rarely found to adhere to the alveolar surface. In contrast, many clusters of alveolar macrophages adhere to the alveolar surface in lungs with fibrosing alveolitis (Figure 2C), where the continuity of the IL-10–positive type I cell layer is interrupted. In addition, type I cells contain less IL-10 in these lungs. According to this model, type I pneumocytes might act as a protective sheath, not only mechanically but also by their expression of IL-10. In contrast, the thickened alveolar walls in lungs with fibrosing alveolitis containing proliferating fibroblasts and inflammatory cells are strongly IL-10 positive. Because IL-10 has been described as a pro-fibrotic TH2 cytokine, the increased expression of IL-10 in interstitial cells of fibrosing alveolar walls might have a pathogenetic role in this process.
Mast cells are present in huge numbers in the alveolar walls of lungs with radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis. These cells have been described to contain IL-10 (Royer et al. 2001 The conflicting role of IL-10 in the development of fibrosing diseases may be explained by its different roles in different cell types that were possibly underestimated previously. In addition, it is important to consider the localization of the protein within the cells (cytoplasm, surface), or of secreted IL-10, which has not been evaluated in this study. The positivity of IL-10 was also detected in the permanent type I cell line R3/1 using Western blotting. As in the immunohistochemistry stainings, a decrease in IL-10 expression could be observed. This indicates that the downregulation of IL-10 might be a direct effect of irradiation of the cells. Taken together, the results seen in the present study show that IL-10 is expressed in the epithelial cells of the alveolar wall. Possible mechanisms of IL-10 involvement in radiation-induced fibrosing alveolitis in different cell types have been discussed.
This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant MU 1299/1-1) and the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (grants BMBF 01ZZ9604 and BMBF 03ZIK041 (Nils Cordes, OncoRay) as well as a grant from the Faculty of Medicine of the Dresden University of Technology (to MGH). The authors thank Daniela Tschuck for excellent technical assistance. The R3/1 cell line was kindly provided by Michael Kasper (Dresden, Germany).
Received for publication January 4, 2007; accepted July 16, 2007
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